Big Men On Campus

Gardner's Signing Adds To Large Receiving Corps

CARLISLE, PA. — Washington Redskins head coach Marty Schottenheimer has made it clear on many occasions that he likes his wide receivers big, strong and physical.

He likes them so well that when 6-foot-2, 218-pound Rod Gardner of Clemson signed his contract Friday morning and reported to camp, he barely made a dent on the average height and weight of the receiving corps. The seven receivers on the roster average 6-2, 210 pounds, with Kevin Lockett being the runt of the litter at 6-0, 185.

"Rod is a big, tough guy with great hands,'' Schottenheimer said after Gardner, the team's first- round draft pick, signed a five-year contract worth $7.7 million, including a $5.1 million signing bonus. "Those are some of the things you look for in a young receiver.''

Those are just about all of the things Schottenheimer looks for in a receiver, young or old. His passing game revolves around short passes to receivers crossing and slanting across the middle. It takes big receivers with good hands to ward off defenders with their bodies and make what are usually tough catches in traffic.

"Rod has the unique ability to make the contested catch,'' Schottenheimer said. "What happens in the NFL is young receivers don't get nearly as wide open as they do in college. Rod proved at Clemson that he has the ability to go make the catch in traffic.''

Gardner said he modeled his game after two of the NFL's more physical receivers, Minnesota's Cris Carter and former Dallas star Michael Irvin.

"Those are two of the guys I definitely tried to pattern myself after,'' Gardner said. "I'm a big, physical receiver, and I feel any time the ball is in the air, it's mine.''

There may be some truth to that, as his first reception Friday morning was on a pass that wasn't intended for him. Quarterback Todd Husak threw a short pass to Donnell Bennett that deflected off the fullback's hands and straight to Gardner, who was running a short sideline pattern.

Gardner beat safety Josh Symonette on a deep crossing pattern two plays later, and capped the morning with a diving catch on cornerback Donovan Greer.

"I heard that Coach Schottenheimer ran tough practices,'' Gardner said, "and (cornerback Fred) Smoot called me the other night and told me how bad he felt after his first practice. It made me a little nervous but, for my first practice, I thought I did pretty good today. I thought I would be tighter than I was.

"My problem isn't going to be running the routes. This offense is custom-made for a guy of my size and abilities. My problem is going to be learning the plays.''

As soon as he does and becomes comfortable in the offense, he will probably replace Lockett as the starter across from Michael Westbrook. Lockett, the fastest and least physical of the group, would then become the third receiver and line up in the slot.

WINNERS & LOSERS

By Warner Hessler

Though the preseason schedule doesn't begin until Aug. 12 at Kansas City, the first two weeks of training camp usually dictate how much playing time rookies and free agents get in the games. This training camp report will focus on one player per day who had a good practice and could get more playing time, and one player who had a bad day and could get less. Report from Friday:

GOOD DAY: WR ROD GARDNER. It didn't take long. To paraphrase the old Army commercial, the first- round pick got more done before noon than most people will do in a lifetime. He picked up $5.1 million in bonus money by signing his contract, then went to practice and caught the first three balls that came his way.

BAD DAY: QB SAGE ROSENFELS. The Redskins may have to go out and sign a veteran free-agent quarterback soon, and not because backup Todd Husak hasn't been sharp. Rosenfels, a fourth-round draft pick from Iowa State, has been indecisive and inaccurate, and may not hang on as the developmental quarterback. A decision won't be made until after the second preseason game at the earliest, but Washington's current quarterback situation is the shakiest in recent memory.

RECEIVERS IN CAMP

Name Ht. Wt.

Rod Gardner 6-2 218

Kevin Lockett 6-0 186

Darnerian McCants 6-3 214

Justin Skaggs 6-2 200

Willie Spencer 6-2 215

Derrius Thompson 6-2 216

Michael Westbrook 6-3 221

Warner Hessler can be reached at 247-4648 or by e-mail at whessler@dailypress.com